If you have a wish or two or three and want to see more
Aladdin, we’re in the mood (to help you, dude). Disney has announced plans to release a sequel to 2019’s massive live action remake of
Aladdin and will be releasing the feature film in theatres, not on Disney+.
Variety broke the news on Thursday, confirming that writers John Gatins and Andrea Berloff were attached to pen the script. Gatins earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for his 2012 film
Flight starring Denzel Washington and has credits on
Real Steel, Kong: Skull Island and
Norbit. Berloff is also an Oscar nominee thanks to her script for
Straight Outta Compton and also wrote the 2006 film
World Trade Center.Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich will be returning as producers for the
Aladdin sequel, but so far they are the only two names from the 2019 film that have been confirmed. It’s still unknown whether director Guy Ritchie, who wrote
Aladdin with John August, will be back for another Disney film. The English director recently released his 2020 film
The Gentleman and is currently working on
Cash Truck, which stars Josh Hartnett, Scott Eastwood and reunites Ritchie with his
Snatch star Jason Statham.[video_embed id='-1']RELATED: 6-year-old sings powerful cover of
Aladdin's 'Speechless'[/video_embed]Of course, the biggest question hanging over Thursday’s news is who from the cast of
Aladdin will return to Agrabah. Film leads Will Smith, who played the Genie, Mena Massoud, who starred as Aladdin, and Naomi Scott, who played Princess Jasmine, have not be confirmed for the sequel, but according to
Variety, offers to the cast will not be extended until a script has been finalized.
Variety also notes that although the original 1992 animated
Aladdin had two straight-to-video sequels, the upcoming live action remake will be an entirely new concept.Last year’s
Aladdin was a
box office juggernaut, grossing $1 billion worldwide and becoming the ninth highest grossing film of the year and the 34
th highest grossing film of all time.
Aladdin also took the title as only the fourth live-action adaptation of an animated film to pass $1 billion at the box office (
Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and
Alice In Wonderland are also on the list).Although
Aladdin was a hit at the box office, it was met with mixed reviews, starting first with Will Smith’s
CGI appearance at the Genie. The actor’s animated appearance was corrected in the film and Smith went on to receive praise for his acting in a role that was made famous by the late Robin Williams. Canadian actor
Mena Massoud also shone in his role as Aladdin, but the Toronto native revealed in an interview with the
Daily Beast that his career has stalled since the Disney movie was released."I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it,” said Massoud in December. "I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like
Aladdin. 'He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.' It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since
Aladdin came out." Here’s hoping Massoud’s name is back in lights when the
Aladdin sequel premieres.[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Giant ostrich performs funky dance to attract female at rehab sanctuary'[/video_embed]
